What is a legacy challenge of using copper wiring compared to fiber optics?

The legacy challenge of using copper wiring compared to fiber optics is that copper wiring is more susceptible to electromagnetic interference. This means that copper cables can pick up noise and interference from other electrical devices, which can degrade the signal quality and limit the distance over which data can be transmitted effectively.

In environments where many electronic devices are in operation, such as data centers or industrial settings, this susceptibility becomes a significant advantage for fiber optics. Fiber optic cables, which transmit data as light rather than electrical signals, are immune to electromagnetic interference. This characteristic allows fiber optics to maintain high signal integrity over longer distances, making them more suitable for modern telecommunications infrastructure.

In contrast, while considering the other options, copper wiring does not have a larger physical size nor is it faster than fiber optics. In fact, fiber optics offer significantly higher bandwidth capabilities. The claim that copper wiring is immune to electromagnetic interference is incorrect, as it is quite the opposite, leading to the conclusion that susceptibility to such interference is indeed a legacy challenge of copper wiring.